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Science and Environment

Mustang Survival Corp partners with WorkSafeBC to improve high seas rescues

Marguerite du Plessis
Feb 16th, 2013

Wendell Uglene, Research Manager for Mustang Survival Corp demonstrating one of their submarine escape suits

Vendors and boat enthusiasts have been known to go overboard when it comes to the Vancouver Boat Show. Vendors wheel out the sleekest new vessels, while boaters may drool all over the shinny new decks until the point that they needed to be swabbed. However, if any of these boaters were ever to literally go overboard, their chances of survival will be much improved if they can be spotted by rescuers.

 It is with such visibility in mind that Mustang Survival Corp, in partnership with WorkSafeBC, embarked on a study to find ways to make the rescue process more effective. Wendell Uglene, Research Manager for Mustang Survival Corp, presented the results of the study entitled “On-Water Visibility” at this year's Vancouver Boat Show. Uglene discussed how colour has a big impact on survival outcomes.

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Taking out the trash

Marguerite du Plessis
Sep 24th, 2012

Photo curtesy of the Vancouver Aquarium

 Last Saturday, the Great Canadian Shoreline Clean Up, a partnership between the Vancouver Aquarium, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and the Vancouver Airport (YVR) launched the 19th annual fall shoreline clean up program.

This year's program kicked off with over 250 volunteers collecting 853 kg of shoreline litter on Iona Beach in Richmond.

Other beaches are scheduled for similar volunteer cleanups throughout the upcoming year.

This year's debris collecting activities are particularly important considering the expected problems stemming from the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Ocean currents and winds are expected to deposit debris from this disaster along much of the West Coast, including here in Vancouver.

 “The problem is we don't know when to expect it or what to expect,” commented Carolyn Dawe, the Youth Engagement Officer for WWF.

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